SPICE Girls superstar Mel B has joined forces with Bournemouth-based Fitness First to back International Fitness Week, which runs until Saturday.

More than 400 gyms in 15 countries are opening their doors for free to offer people the chance to train for nothing, learn about equipment and find out about nutrition in a bid to make the world a fitter place.

“I’m buzzing about this week, it’s a great opportunity for people who’ve never been near a gym in their lives to see about taking better care of themselves by finding out what works for them,” says the feisty front woman they once called Scary Spice, but whose mum knows her as Melanie Brown.

“I was 32 before I set foot in a gym and you know what? I wish I’d done it sooner because there’s nothing like the high you get from training properly. I try to go every other day and I miss it if I don’t manage it. I always go with friends for no more than an hour so it feels more natural, I love it.”

Melanie has barely had time to touch the ground lately, flying between Frankfurt, Amsterdam and London launching International Fitness Week. She’s also starting work on a comeback album before returning to the States to record the new series of her dance/weight loss reality show Dance Your Ass Off.

FACTFILE

• Melanie Brown is best known as Mel B, or Scary, from the Spice Girls. With Victoria Beckham (Posh), Emma Bunton (Baby), Melanie Chisholm (Sporty) and Geri Halliwell (Ginger).

• They have sold more than 75 million copies worldwide, making them the most successful girl group of all time – and the biggest selling British band since The Beatles.

• Their reunion tour culminated in a 17-night stand at the O2 Arena London

• Rumours persist the Spice Girls will reunite a second time to perform at the 2012 Olympics.

• The Spice Girls have been nominated for a Brit Award this year in the new category, The Brits Hits 30, for the most memorable performance of the last 30 years for their hit singles Wannabe and Who Do You Think You Are?

• The Spice Girls have been nominated for a Brit Award this year in the new category, The Brits Hits 30, for the most memorable performance of the last 30 years for their hit singles Wannabe and Who Do You Think You Are?

• Fitness First began as a single health and fitness club in Bournemouth in 1992. It now has more than 160 gyms and health clubs in the UK alone – and some 500 worldwide. It’s head office is in Poole.

“That’s a real laugh,” she says. “It’s one of the most watched shows on the Oxygen network and the first series was a big hit. It combines dancing with weight loss and I’m just there egging the contestants on.

“But I’m really excited about starting a new album. I came from pop, from music and that’s where my heart lies. I’m writing my own material – I have to write my own material because then it has come from me and I can believe in it.”

But the biggest news in Melanie’s professional world is the forthcoming Spice Girls musical, Viva Forever, which is being put together with the help of Mamma Mia! producer Judy Craymer.

“Of course we’re very closely involved with that, we don’t do anything unless all five of us agree to it. We’ve had all our meetings and conference calls and we’re starting work on all the creative decisions now so it’s really exciting.”

The musical will be based on the Spice Girls’ songs but will revolve around a fictional story – much like the phenomenally successful Mamma Mia! show. Melanie was, of course, tight-lipped about the details.

“It’s nice now that we’re five women with our own independent projects who can meet up and have things we agree on. When we got together for our tour in 2008, we made the decision and a month later we were in rehearsal. It was that quick.

“I was surprised at the reaction – at how well we were rec- eived, so I’d never rule out doing it again – it makes it even more important to look after myself!”

And looking after herself is vitally important to Melanie.

The mum-of-two makes no bones about battling the bulge after giving birth to her youngest daughter, Angel, in 2007; though the ensuing paternity battle with Angel’s father, film star Eddie Murphy, can’t have helped.

“I put on a lot of baby weight when Angel was born and – like a lot of women – I really needed to get back in shape afterwards,” Melanie says. “That was when I first went to a gym and found that they’re not scary places, you know I enjoy going to the gym. I have to believe 100 per cent in what I’m doing then it becomes an organic thing.

“So if I can help the world get a little fitter by working with Fitness First on this campaign, I’ll have done a good thing.”